In the novel, The Power of One written by Bryce Courtenay a five year old English boy called Peekay is sent to a boarding school. The book is set across the years 1939-1951. Peekay has to deal with the other kids at his school who are a lot different to him.A key relationship was Doc and Peekay. Throughout the novel, Doc showed Peekay what life is all about and was bringing Peekay closer to finding the power of one inside of himself. This Changed Peekay throughout the book and made him a better person. He also showed him kindness and was very important to him.
From many experiences, Peekay finally discovers ‘the power of one’. The meaning of the power of one is finding the power that you have inside of yourself and developing a sense of self love and realising how much you are truly worth. It is being able to live independently and trusting the process of how things in your life are going but also being able to achieve and conquer the goals you have set for yourself. The power of one means finding yourself. Knowing who you are and knowing what you like. It’s not doing things because you get told. It’s not needing comfort from others every time something goes wrong. It is being able to stop and think by yourself and get through it on your own. “The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete, the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better.”
Doc and Peekays relationship became stronger as they were best friends. Doc was very important to peekay as he taught him the power of knowledge, as well as teaching him to love. He taught peekay to love music, love learning and improving as much as possible and develop a love for African which Peekay did not realise was there. ‘ Always listen to yourself, Peekay. It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention. If you are wrong, no matter, you have learned something and you grow stronger. If you are right, you have taken another step toward a fulfilling life.” Doc became Peekay’s piano teacher and his general mentor. Even in the time when Doc was in prison, Peekay still visited him and Doc continued to tutor him to help him reach his goals. Unfortunately, When Doc sadly passes at the end of the book his best friend Peekay is left without him, although this death actually has a massive impact on Peekay. Peekay described his relationship with Doc as “so fierce that it burned like a flame inside of us.” This made Peekay have a different appreciation for life and the meaning of it all. Doc was very special to him but would always remain in his heart along with all the memories.
Peekay is almost a different character by the end of the book from the thing he learns and discovers. Throughout Peekays lifetime, he had relied on others. This all began with his deep connection to his nanny who meant the entire world to him and was always there to comfort him. He then learns the principles of life. Peeky discovers to love, let go of worries and anxieties and be more mindful, He discovers how to truly look after himself. At the start of the Novel Peekay felt small and ashamed. He owned a horrible name and was not proud of it. By the end of the novel Peekay was a proud owner of his name and felt that he really belonged. The novel ended with peekay being determined and knowing not to give up. The reason for this is because of how powerful he felt from his experience. Peekay trained and did not stop. Years went by but this new and improved boy was dedicated to reach his goal, to become the boxing champion of the world. Something that helped him along the way was how he had told himself that once trained, ready and prepared he would finally be able to get back at the nasty boy that bullied him at boarding school. The same boy that killed his chicken. He was so set on getting revenge with this boy that there was no way he was going to stop training after all the effort and work he had put in to get to where he was. He felt happy and knew that he had achieved something without letting anyone or himself down. This boy grew up to have such a passion for love, boxing and courage. As peekay also had the chance to meet a boxer on his train ride home, that was something that especially inspired him to reach his goal independently. besides love, independence of thought is the greatest gift an adult can give a child.”
In conclusion, Bryce Courtenay teaches the audience how Peekay learns to love and find ‘The power of one’ within himself. He demonstrates how to be dependent and not rely on others. For Peekay, Doc was a massive help for him to learn these things. From their relationship Doc taught Peekay to love more and enjoy new things and set some goals. With his help Peekay managed to become who he wanted to be and was not ashamed of. He finally had the power of one.
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